Kyoya's Secret Kitten

Chapter 21

The rest of the week followed the same pattern. I would get up early and cook for the house. Then I would attend school and the club, and train with Honey Senpai and Mori Senpai. Lastly, I would prepare dinner and then go straight to bed. I made sure to follow all of the requests that Kyoya had made and I used the little free time I could find to adjust recipes and experiment. I could tell that Kyoya didn't appreciate our lack of time together, but he understood why and gave me the time I needed. Before long it was Thursday night, and my impending judgement made me far too anxious to fall sleep. I silently crept from my room and gently knocked on the door next to mine.

"Kyoya," I half whispered. "I'm going downstairs. I'll only be down for a little while and then I'll be back." Silence answered me. Assuming that he was fast asleep, I crept down the stairs and made my way to the dimly lit kitchen. Pulling a pot from it's place, I set it onto the stove and retrieved the milk from the refrigerator. I filled the pot about half way and turned the burner onto low. While I waited, I busied myself with preparations for the next morning, finalizing the menu for the day, and writing instructions on the board. As soon as I saw steam coming from the pot, I quickly added in my other ingredients and began to stir. As I watched the contents of the pot swirl, my mind began to wander. Kyoya had made it clear the he wanted to be together, but I couldn't help but wonder how that would change with his fathers return. My mind traveled through  scenario after scenario, each one becoming more distressing. I contemplated everything from a clean breakup to ridicule and shame. It was almost more than I could bear when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I whipped around in shock to see Kyoya standing behind me. He was still in his school uniform and he looked completely exhausted.

"I thought you went to bed hours ago." His quiet voice almost sounded like a shout in the otherwise silent house. I nodded and gave a half-hearted smile.

"I did, but I couldn't sleep, so I came down here." I turned back to my work as I continued to speak. "I knocked on your door. When you didn't answer, I just assumed that you were asleep." I couldn't help but smile at my ridiculous assumption. "Now I can see that you can't sleep either." Kyoya sat at the desk chair and let out a sigh.

"I can't help but wonder why father is coming home." He admitted. "There's only two reasons that come to mind and, I have to admit, neither one is going to be good for us." I pulled the pot off of the heat and fetched two cups from the cupboard. "There's no pressing business in Japan for him to have to handle, and there's nothing out of control at the house." He began while I ladled the steaming drink into the mugs and reached for a bag I had left on the counter.

"That means it has something to do with a family matter." I stated plainly, dropping the fluffy white sweets into the mugs. Kyoya nodded. "Either your father has some matter he wants you to handle and he wants to take you with him, or..." I stopped, not wanting to go on.

"Or he has someone he wants me to meet, which would mean that it's probably a young lady." Kyoya voiced my fear nonchalantly as I handed him a steaming mug. I stared into his dark eyes, hoping to see some clue as to his thoughts, but they did not betray him. I turned and leaned against the counter next to my own mug. Kyoya took a sip from his cup, savoring the flavor before speaking again. "If the former, I won't be back for a few weeks at the earliest. I've taken the precaution of asking the club members to look out for you at school while I'm gone. Since you'll be acting as chef, you're more than welcome to stay here. You'll be perfectly safe within the estate."

"What if it's about a girl?" I asked cautiously, bracing myself to hear that it would be the end. I focused on the liquid in my mug, unable to look at Kyoya. It was silent for a moment.

"Then I'll have to find a way out of it." I heard Kyoya say, but it took me a moment to fully understand his words. My eyes shot up to meet his.

"Is that even possible?" I questioned, hope filling my voice.

"I don't know, but I'm not going to just give up." Kyoya stood and moved to where I was, placing his hand on my cheek. I leaned into it, feeling the residual warmth from his mug on my face. "I meant what I said when I told you that I love you. I will do whatever it takes for us to be together. If that means I have to give up everything and run away with you, then I will, without hesitation." I could hear the determination in his voice and it filled my heart with hope and sadness. If Kyoya went against his fathers wishes, then he would have to give up everything he had ever known, everything he had ever worked for. I promised myself that I wouldn't let things come to that.

"I love you Kyoya." I half whispered. A gentle smile spread across Kyoya's face. He leaned down and our lips met in a sweet, slow kiss. Neither of us wanted it to end, but Kyoya pulled away.

"I love you too Kitten." He whispered, sending shivers down my spine. I turned back to my cup and Kyoya returned to his place at the desk. "By the way, this hot chocolate is excellent." I smiled and looked into my mug.

"Just don't drink more than a cup a week, there's way too much sugar in here for anyone's good." I drained what was left of my hot chocolate and rinsed out the mug.

"Then why would you drink it when you can't sleep? Wouldn't the sugar make it more difficult to fall asleep?" Kyoya questioned. I shook my head.

"You would think so, but I've never had that problem." I let out a yawn. "In fact, it's never failed to make me sleepy." Kyoya nodded and yawned himself. I laughed as Kyoya looked at me surprised.

"That was fast." He admitted. "I haven't even finished mine yet." I stretched out my hand.

"It's best not to fight it." Kyoya handed me his mug and I quickly rinsed it out. "Let's get to bed before we both fall asleep down here." I joked. Kyoya took my hand as we made our way up to our rooms. With each step, I could feel my exhaustion catching up to me. When we reached the top of the stairs, Kyoya wrapped me in a hug.

"Kitten, promise me something." He whispered in my ear.

"What is it?" I asked sleepily.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, please don't do anything dangerous. Let me sort things out with my father." When I didn't answer immediately, his grip tightened. "Promise me that you won't do something reckless." He repeated firmly. I only nodded in response. That seemed to satisfy him and I was released, only to be brought back for a tender kiss. "Sleep well, Kitten."

"Don't worry," I joked, obviously overly tired. "I'm falling asleep just standing here." Kyoya smiled and swept me up bridal style. He effortlessly opened my door and carried me over to the bed, setting me down as if he thought I was made of glass. He leaned down and gently  kissed my forehead, and turned to leave. I quickly snagged the edge of his blazer and stopped him. "Kyoya, would you stay with me tonight?"

"Of course Kitten." I could hear his smile in his voice. "Just let me change first." He disappeared for a moment, returning in his pajamas. He curled up behind me, and whether it was because of the company, the exhaustion, or the hot chocolate, we were both asleep in minutes.